The Most Important TDM Post You'll Read This Year

We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give.

 –Winston Churchill

Do you remember these cuties from last year’s Tour de Moose.  They were the inspiration behind the FIRST ever, charitable portion of the Tour.  Just in case you aren’t up to speed, let me refresh your memory.

 
That’s Matthew Akin on the left and his baby brother, Andrew on the right. Matthew and Andrew were both diagnosed with a rare immune deficiency (caused by a genetic mutation XLP-2) called HLH.  The only cure is a bone marrow transplant.   Over Labor Day weekend 2009, Andrew passed away after his third bone marrow transplant. He was courageous, brave, and always had a smile on his face.  When Andrew passed away, his brother Matthew was in the middle of his first bone marrow transplant in an attempt to save his life.   Last year,  YOU (the extraordinary participants of the Tour de Moose) raised over $400 to donate to the National Marrow Donor Program (Be The Match).  On top of that, over 30 of you gave cheek swabs in order to be added to the National Registry and potentially have the opportunity to save the life of someone like Matthew or Andrew.  I was humbled by your generosity and overwhelmed at the number of you who were willing to give of yourselves in order to save a life.

On May 1^st, 2010, the unthinkable happened.  Matthew Akin passed away.  Only 8 short months after the Akin Family lost their 2-year old son, Andrew, they had also lost their 5-year old son, Matthew.  I’m asking you to stop and consider that for a moment.  The Akins lost their only two children in the span of 8 months to a devastating disease.  I’d ask to you to imagine their pain, to put yourself in their shoes, but that, my friends, is impossible.  How can you imagine the unimaginable?

Here’s where you come in.  Justin and Kristin Akin have started the Matthew and Andrew Akin Foundation in memory of their sons.  The mission of the Foundation is to provide resources for children with HLH and their families going through the bone marrow transplant process, fund HLH research and educate the public on the importance of joining the National Marrow Donor Program.  

The Matthew and Andrew Akin Foundation will be the charity recipient of all funds donated at the 2010 Tour de Moose.  Without monetary donations, life saving research to fight HLH will not take place.  Without monetary donations, donors will not be able to be added to the National Bone Marrow Registry at no charge to them.  Even though Matthew and Andrew are no longer with us, make no mistake:

Bone marrow transplants save lives. 

At this year’s Tour de Moose, I’m asking you to remember Matthew, Andrew, and the Akin Family.  As you bike with friends, remember two sweet angels who will never get the chance to ride their bikes together.  

As we celebrate Kevin’s 40^th birthday, please pull out your wallets and donate what you can to the Matthew and Andrew Akin Foundation.  Donate to save lives.  Donate to help other families devastated by HLH.  Donate to honor two little boys who won’t get to celebrate any more birthdays on Earth.  Every little bit helps.

 
Thank you, Tour de Moose Participants.  You are an amazing group of people.  I am honored to know you and be a part of such an event.